Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “Mr. Chairman, I rise today concerning H.R. 1979 and in support of the Oberstar-Lipinski amendment which will strike an…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise today concerning H.R. 1979 and in support of the Oberstar-Lipinski amendment which will strike an improper and egregious provision in an otherwise good bill. This amendment addresses fundamental questions of fairness in allocating scarce resources. This is an issue of national security. Do we allocate funds for national security? Or, rather, do we use these limited funds to reimburse private airports for control towers that have already been built? In today's climate, are we not obligated to anticipate and fund present and future needs first? The Aviation Trust Fund, which collects revenues from a variety of sources, provides the dollars for airport improvement programs, the main source of Federal aid to airports. The trust fund is being quickly depleted at a time of increased demand. AIP funding is a finite resource, and the Federal Government places restrictions on its use to maximize safety and security. It is not a reimbursement fund for private airports. Allowing private airports that have already constructed towers to be reimbursed is a poor use of limited AIP funds. Decisions to build these towers were made at a local level without the expectation of a Federal commitment to the project. In fact, it was clear that there would be no such Federal participation. And as we say in Texas, a deal is a deal.”